Vineyards which are extremely well-hidden!

Advantages: Cheap, cheerful and healthy!
Disadvantages: Very moreish- could be unhealthy!

...Browsing the wine shelves at Asda I came across Hidden Vineyards Red Wine. On closer inspection I read that it was a British wine.The name fascinated me as it immediately evoked a scenario of strolling through woodlands and emerging into the sunlight to a panoramic view of a gently sloping vineyard, snuggly nestling in the sheltered valley below. This image, coupled with a rare feeling of patriotism, was enough to convince me to buy a few bottles. Health Facts: Experts believe that drinking red wine, in moderation, can help maintain good health. It contains several antioxidants and Resveratrol (which has blood thinning properties) which help protect the heart, and can reduce high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Current research is also looking at using Resveratrol as a cancer preventative. So drinking one...

feather13 09.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Hidden Vineyards Red Wine

A Jewel among Restaurants

Advantages: Superb food
Disadvantages: Can be very noisy

...Who would have thought that just along from Tesco Express and Ken's Kebabs would lie one of Southsea's best restaurants? But close to Elm Grove traffic lights, five minutes from the shopping precinct and less than a mile from the seafront, Rosie's Vineyard nestles between Nico's Cafe and an office furniture shop. You would not suspect that the narrow, original shopfront with its stained-glass window panes was the entrance to a jewel of a restaurant that could outdo any on the more select location of Osborne Road or the waterfront at Portsmouth's Gunwharf Quays. My first visit was on a Monday evening, and I would say that any restaurant that's full at the beginning of the week must be worth its salt. Deciding on the spur of the moment to have dinner there one Saturday, I suggested going early as I knew how crowded it would be later on...

denella 25.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Rosie's Vineyard Winebar and Restaurant, Southsea

How do you say "Margate" in American?

Advantages: It's an experience, good beaches, Black Dog T-shirts, nice pizza
Disadvantages: Doesn't live up to its reputation, tacky, FAR too many tourists

...Whistle-stop tours of large places ? there?s nothing like them, eh? Having returned a few days ago from a wonderful, extremely busy 3 week trip to America, everything I saw and did is just beginning to sink in. My holiday in the United States included a week in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and as the kind cottage owner had provided free ferry tickets, we decided to sail out to Martha?s Vineyard and poke around there for a day. ~~ So Where Exactly Is Martha's Vineyard?~~ As I?ve said, we made the trip whilst staying in Cape Cod, a small arm-shaped piece of land belonging to the northern state of Massachusetts and projecting into the Atlantic Ocean. On the southern side of Cape Cod is a roughly triangular island, 10 miles by 20 ?Martha?s Vineyard, separated from the mainland by the Vineyard Sound. Nearby are the long, thin Elizabeth...

Lady-Oracle 15.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Martha ´s Vineyard

Bourgogne - The Vineyard Holiday

Advantages: Plenty of vineyards and chateaus
Disadvantages: Older kids may find it boring

...I have been to France many times, always visiting the Dordogne area which I love, but our friends recommended Burgundy for a change of scenery and gastronomy. We went to the Burgundy region in October 2004 for a week, self catering in a wonderfully topsy turvy farmhouse, set in 3000sq metres of garden in a hilly village near Burgundy's wine capital Beaune, with 3 vineyards within walking distance. October was quite a nice month to visit, as the grapes had all been harvested and the autumn colours were just starting to settle in. The weather was fine, slightly breezy and thankfully only rained on our last day. We drove using Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais, and then began the long haul down to Burgundy. It seemed like a very long drive, and we have driven to the Dordogne many times, so I knew to expect very straight boring...

lollyparker 09.03.2005 · Read review
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Review of Burgundy (France)

10th largest California vineyard grows organically

Advantages: A generous full-bodied, not-too-dry red wine from California
Disadvantages: None

.... THE WINE We are off to the New World today ? America in fact. California now produces 90% of the wine output of the United States. There are many fine wineries (some boasting produce that will compete with the best in the world ? both in terms of quality and price) in the state, ranged along its Pacific coast. The Fetzer vineyard is to be found in Mendocino County, the most northerly part of this wine producing region. Protected from the coastal fogs by a range of hills, the McDowell valley tends to be warm and dry. Huge acres of vines are planted along the banks of the Russian River. Many varieties of wine grape are grown in California. ?Valley Oaks? is a single varietal. The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is a small late-ripening dark blue/black berry with a thick skin. It is the fundamental ingredient of the French Bordeaux but its...

Newfloridian 03.07.2003 · Read review
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Review of Fetzer Valley Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon

You don't even get what you pay for.

Advantages: Cheap
Disadvantages: Virtually undrinkable

...Although I have quite a discerning palate as far as wine is concerned, as an everyday accompaniment to the evening meal, I rarely pay more than 3 or 4 pounds a bottle and I am always on the look out for bargains' Imagine my delight when I found Hidden Vineyards British wines on Asda's bottom shelf at less than £2 a bottle. "Got to give it a try" I thought, so I grabbed two white and two red. Pouring myself a glass of red (room temperature of course), I savoured the rich blackcurrant nose of this curiously bright red wine and alas! The flavour made me wince. The taste was almost indistinguishable from a well known blackcurrant cordial and there was an overwhelming sweetness to it. Not to be too hasty in my judgement and knowing that some of the bottom end reds can sometimes be made acceptable by chilling, I popped a bottle in...

petesm 08.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Hidden Vineyards Red Wine

Seriously Chilled!

Advantages: Relaxed atmosphere, beautiful surroundings & plenty to do
Disadvantages: Expensive and you have to plan well in advance

...If you're looking for a seriously chilled holiday in the States, then look no further than Martha's Vineyard. It's a fantastic island just off the East Coast of the US near to New York and Boston and has a range of activities for everyone. Martha's Vineyard has three main areas, Edgartown, Oaks Bluff and Vineyard Haven. Each are quite different in their appearance and popularity, but the New England charm is evident throughout. Be warned, however, accommodation is not easy to find, and can be expensive, so book well in advance. On that same note, if you're planning on taking your car over on the ferry, then you need to book your ferry seat about a month in advance - you can't just pitch up and hope for the best! You will need to send in an application form for the day you want to travel, and the ferry company will slot you in whenever...

gazb 29.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Martha ´s Vineyard

Ocean Village Two - Villas & Vineyards, July 2007

Advantages: Modern, Clean Ship. Friendly attentive staff. Easy going & Informal
Disadvantages: Overcrowded. Bland, repetitive food. Expensive excursions. Noisy pool area

......

DS2007 02.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ocean Village Cruise

Be a devil!

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...I am usually a white wine drinker but do, on occasions, like a glass (or 3) of red. One of my favourites is Casillero del Diablo cabernet sauvignon. Casillero del Diablo cabernet sauvignon is produced in the Maipo valley in Chile. After fermentation in steel tanks 70% of the wine is then transferred to be aged in American oak for a further 6-8 months. The remaining 30% is aged in stainless steel tanks. This gives the wine its oak flavours. The name Casillero del Diablo means cellar of the devil. The name came about in the 19th century when the vineyard owner Don Melchor discovered that his vineyard workers were sampling his precious wines. Don Melchor started a rumour that his dark cellar where the wine was stored was the cellar of the devil. It is not documented whether or not his ploy worked, but the name stuck. However back...

anwar 04.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon

Bigger boat please?

Advantages: Scheider, Dreyfuss & Shaw
Disadvantages: Shows its age in places

...Even after 30 years this is still good. The seaside town of Amity (Marthas Vineyard in real LIFE) is plagued by shark attacks by a Great White on people and its the height of the summer season and the mayor doesn't want to close the beaches. So cue Chief of Police Brody (Roy Scheider) to voice his opinion and try and save the town. The bloody scenes of frenzied attacks and special effects some of which still look pretty good, the scares that you KNOW are coming, the rubbery shark here are there. Roy Scheider as Chief Brody going on to to be in Blue Thunder, Richard Dreyfuss going on to be in Mr Holland's Opus and Close Encounters (or had he already been in that?) and Robert Shaw (he of the Rank logo gong banging fame). They definitely needed a bigger boat, and a saner captain. The shark is most likely the biggest star, lines like...

atytyut2434 12.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Jaws (DVD)